NOTE.—"It is the motive that gives char-
acter to our acts, stamping them with ig-
nominy or with high moral worth. Not the
great things which every eye sees and
every tongue praises does God account
most precious. The little duties cheerfully
done, the little gifts which make no show,
and which to human eyes may appear
worthless, often stand highest in His sight.
A heart of faith and love is dearer to God
than the most costly gift. The poor widow
gave her living to do the little that she
did. She deprived herself of food in order
to give those two mites to the cause she
loved. And she did it in faith, believing that
her heavenly Father would not overlook
her great need. It was this unselfish spirit
and childlike faith that won the Saviour's
commendation."—The
Desire of Ages,
page
615.
Care for the Needy
7.
For whom does God have special
care? Prov. 22:22, 23; 23:10, 11.
8.
What instruction did God give
the Israelites in regard to provision
for the poor and the strangers? LeV.
19:9, 10; 25:35-37; Deut. 15:7-11.
NorE.—"The law of God gave the poor
a right to a certain portion of the pro-
duce of the soil. When hungry, a man was
at liberty to go to his neighbor's field or
orchard or vineyard, and eat of the grain
or fruit to satisfy his hunger. . . .
"Every seventh year special provision
was made for the poor. The sabbatical
year, as it was called, began at the end of
the harvest. . . . Of that which the land
produced spontaneously they might eat
while fresh, but they were not to lay up
any portion of it in their storehouses. The
yield of this year was to be free for the
stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and
even for the creatures of the field."—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 531.
9.
What additional provision did
God make for the poor? Deut. 14:22,
23, 28, 29.
NOTE.—"To promote the assembling of
the people for religious service, as well as
to provide for the poor, a second tithe
of all the increase was required. Concern-
ing the first tithe, the Lord had declared,
`I have given the children of Levi all the
tenth in Israel.' Numbers 18:21. But in
regard to the second He commanded, [Deut.
14:23, 29; 16:11-14 quoted]. . . . This
tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were
for two years to bring to the place where
the sanctuary was established. After pre-
senting a thank offering to God and a
specified portion to the priest, the offerers
were to use the remainder for a religious
feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the
fatherless, and the widow should partici-
pate. Thus provision was made for the
thank offerings and feasts at the yearly
festivals, and the people were drawn to the
society of the priests and Levites, that they
might receive instruction and encourage-
ment in the service of God.
"Every third year, however, this second
tithe was to be used at home, in entertain-
ing the Levite and the poor, as Moses
said, 'That they may eat within thy gates,
and be filled.' . . . This tithe would provide
a fund for the uses of charity and hospi-
tality."—Patriarchs
and Prophets,
page 530.
10.
How did the apostle James de-
fine true religion? James 1:27.
NOTE.—"Christ has said that we shall
have the poor always with us, and He
unites His interest with that of His suffering
people. The heart of our Redeemer sympa-
thizes with the poorest and lowliest of his
earthly children. He tells us that they are
His representatives on earth. He has placed
them among us to awaken in our hearts
the love that He feels toward the suffering
and oppressed. Pity and benevolence shown
to them are accepted by Christ as if
shown to Himself. An act of cruelty or
neglect toward them is regarded as though
done to
Him."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
pages 535, 536.
Prophecies and Warnings
11.
What spirit among men is a
sure sign that the end is near? 2 Tim.
3:1, 2.
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